KMAN Publication Inc. (KMANPUB) Applied Family Therapy Journal (AFTJ) 3041-8798 In Press 2027 09 01 Comparing the Efficacy of Transactional Analysis-Based Group Counseling and Psychodrama on Social Self-Empowerment among Children of Divorce Comparing the Efficacy of Transactional Analysis-Based Group Counseling and Psychodrama on Social Self-Empowerment among Children of Divorce 1 14 EN Journal Article 2026 07 18 <p><strong>Objective:</strong> This study aimed to compare the efficacy of Transactional Analysis-based group counseling and psychodrama in improving social self-empowerment among female adolescents from divorced families.</p> <p><strong>Methods and Materials:</strong> This quasi-experimental study employed a pretest-posttest control-group design with a two-week follow-up. The statistical population consisted of female senior high school students aged 15–17 years from divorced families in Ajabshir, Iran, during the 2023–2024 academic year. Using purposive sampling, 36 eligible students were selected and randomly assigned to Transactional Analysis, psychodrama, and control groups, with 12 participants in each group. The experimental groups received nine 90-minute intervention sessions twice weekly, whereas the control group received no intervention. Social self-empowerment was assessed using the Social Competence Questionnaire. Data were analyzed in SPSS using analysis of covariance and Bonferroni post-hoc comparisons.</p> <p><strong>Findings:</strong> After controlling for pretest scores, the group effect on posttest social self-empowerment was statistically significant, F(2, 32)=25.375, p&lt;0.001, η²=0.613. Bonferroni comparisons showed that both Transactional Analysis (MD=1.153, p&lt;0.001) and psychodrama (MD=0.669, p&lt;0.001) produced significantly greater improvements than the control condition. Moreover, Transactional Analysis resulted in a significantly greater increase in social self-empowerment than psychodrama (MD=0.484, SE=0.149, p=0.008).</p> <p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Both Transactional Analysis-based group counseling and psychodrama were effective in enhancing social self-empowerment among female adolescents from divorced families; however, Transactional Analysis demonstrated superior efficacy. These findings support the implementation of structured school-based group counseling interventions to strengthen interpersonal competence, social agency, and adaptive functioning among adolescents affected by parental divorce.</p> https://www.journals.kmanpub.com/index.php/aftj/article/download/6530/12193